Import 3D annotations into Inventor with the STEP 242 file format

Inventor can import 3D annotations along with model geometry with a STEP 242 file format.

This feature has been available since Inventor 2019.1:

Additional option to import PMI-3D annotation data: Inventor 2019.1 Update-Support for STEP and PMI Data

To import a Step file with 3D Annotations:

Select 'Graphical PMI' in the Import dialog box on the Options tab::

→If the 'Graphical PMI' option is greyed out, the Step file was not exported as a Step 242 file or didn't have any 3D annotations:

If the original file was created with 3D annotations and the 'Graphical PMI' selection is not available in Inventor, check the source software for an option to include them and/or the option to choose the Step 242 file format.

In some software when exporting to a Step file, in addition to choosing the 242 file format, it is necessary to include existing 3D Annotations in the export.  

To include 3D Annotations when exporting to a Step file:

In the Save As dialog box select the Options... button to choose the 242 format.

Related links:

• 3D Annotations are not showing
• Import and re-export Step with 3D Annotations

About the Author

Manufacturing Technical Support Specialist<br><br>Joanna has over eight years of experience working with Autodesk products. She started supporting core AutoCAD and network installations of all Autodesk products. She now has five years of experience with Inventor. <br> She graduated from Mechanical Engineering and has been providing solutions to clients and dedicating her knowledge to the Solution Center since then.

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